When Mike Babcock opened his first training camp as head coach of the Maple Leafs two years ago, he emphasized a rebuilding plan for many of the team's returning players. In Gardiner, he saw the offensive flair that helped the defenceman earn NHL all-rookie team honours in 2011-12.

“A first impression's pretty huge, especially on a new coach for playing time and stuff like that,” Gardiner said at the time. “Everyone's got a fresh start and it'll be good for everyone.”

Over the last few months, Gardiner has elevated his game to a new level. Perhaps the best evidence of that was during Game 2 of Toronto's Eastern Conference quarter-final series against the Washington Capitals, when Gardiner pinched deep to help set up the game's opening goal by James van Riemsdyk.

Gardiner's skating on full display to set up JVR's opening goal.

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